Band 7+: The graph below gives information about the percentage of the population in four Asian countries living in cities from 1970 to 2020, with predictions for 2030 and 2040. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

The graph provides data about the percentage of urban citizens in four distinct Asian nations from 1970 to 2020 and the forecast for the next ten years. Overall, in spite of the dramatic fluctuation, the percentage of population in all four countries saw an increase over the period and is predicted to continue growing until 2040.

Philippines started with the largest portion of urban population, which was over 30% in 1970. Similarly, Malaysia also had a high percentage of urban citizens, with the figure being 30%. While the Philippines witnessed a stable and rapid rise over 50 years from 1970 to 2020, Malaysia remained stable in 1980 before significantly increasing to approximately 50% in 1990 and then recovering to beyond 40% in 2020. In the next 20 years, the number of urban populations in both the Philippines and Malaysia has been expected to climb noticeably.

In contrast, Indonesia had the lowest percent of urban demographics, around 12%. However, this percentage increased significantly throughout the years from 1970 to 2040 and overtook both Thailand and the Philippines, respectively, in 2000 and 2010. Thailand began with the portion of urban population being around 20% in 1970 and stagnated at approximately 25% after rapid growth in the first 20 years. From 2020 to 2040, Thailand has experienced remarkable growth, surging from 25% to about 40%.